Saturday, April 14, 2018

During our Easter break we usually have a small VBS, but during the last few years, it always rained on us and kind of spoiled our plans. This year we decided that we would invite all the church kids over to our house for a 24 hour Pina House Camp. It was a lot of fun to have 18 of the church kids come over. We prepared for them five Easter lessons for them, food, games, Bible quiz time, they made mug cakes and Portuguese Easter bread. It was a wonderful time to share with them the wonderful story of God´s plan of redemption for our lives.

We still have not been able to start a weekly ministry for children like we would like, please pray that God would open those doors. We are reminded often that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers few.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

This past Sunday was Father's day here in Portugal. We have been blessed with many fathers in our church, but that has not always been the case. We have heard from the women who have been at the church the longest, that for many years the past missionary family and the church prayed for God to bring men. He has been answering that prayer with a large group of men who are learning to live for the Lord. This Sunday we had sixteen fathers. And we pray that God would use them to lead their families to righteousness . Here is a poem I would like to dedicate to my father and husband and thank them for their unconditional love.

Dad's hands were king-size and strong.
With his hands, he built our home and fixed all the broken things.
Dad's hands gave generously, served humbly, and loved mom tenderly, unselfishly, completely, unendingly.

With his hand, Dad held me when I was small, steadied me when I stumbled, and guided me in the right direction.
When I needed help, I could always count on Dad's hands.
Sometimes Dad's hands corrected me, disciplined me, shielded me, rescued me.
Dad's hands protected me.

Dad's hand held mine when he walked me down the aisle. His hand gave me to my forever love, who, not surprisingly, is very much like Dad.

Dad's hands were the instruments of his great big, rugged-tender heart.

Dad's hands were strength.
Dad's hands were love.
With his hands he praised God.
And he prayed to the Father with those big hands.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

The end of January we sent our school coordinator, Salomé to South Africa, there there is a group with a good Christian School curriculum and they are working to get it translated to be able to use all over Africa. They were especial interested to work with us because the Portuguese-African Nations use the Portuguese school system. So we are working with them to create and translate curriculum for Portugal and Africa. Please pray for us, because this is not an easy or inexpensive task.